Archive for July, 2010

I am having a great time but am missing everyone, especially folks at Holy Covenant. Sundays are especially odd, not worshipping with all of you. If you have the chance, I’d love to hear from you. Below is the address I can be reached at………

Rachel Durbin-Nowicki
Youth Theological Initiative
Candler School of Theology
1531 Dickey Drive/Room 433A
Atlanta, GA 30322

I had hoped to write more frequently but we don’t have internet access except in the early morning and late at night. I will do my best to let you know what I am doing.

Love and Peace,
Rachel D-N

Dear beloved at Holy Covenant,

During his ministry on earth, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the likes of children. Jesus didn’t mind when kids swarmed around him – even when adults said, “Oh, leave him alone now” or “He’s not talking to you; he’s not here for you!” Little children even taught others how to praise, shouting “Hosanna” when the grown-ups were appalled because Jesus was challenging the status quo in the temple. Jesus also said, “Whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me.” We want to welcome children in ways that families need and want, and in ways that are particular to who we are as a community of faith.

I’m inviting families into a conversation about what’s next at HC, to meet families I don’t yet know, and to find out what both parents and kids want, need, and hope for in a community of faith. Both this Sunday, July 18th, and August 1st, I’ll be meeting families at 10:30, after the early service. We’ll step across the way to Einstein’s for coffee or tea. There will be extended childcare at church but children are also welcome to come. Either way, please bring your ideas. Email me at rebeccaanderson@holycovenantumc.org to let me know which Sunday you’d like to join the conversation, and whether you expect to use childcare so we can plan accordingly.

OR…if you cannot make either of these group times, I’d love to take you out for coffee (or meet you at a neighborhood park).

Some other news about children and families at HC this summer:

* On Sunday, August 15th, after the first service, children and families are going to Jonquil Park (at Sheffield and Lincoln) to play on the awesome new equipment, including a sprinkler. We’ll have stickers and invitations to HC to give the folks we meet while we play. We want to let the neighborhood know that we have childcare and invite them to join this great worshiping community.
* We’ve hired the fabulous Kristen McCray, through SitBaby, to provide childcare for the first service – and coffee hour – in the newly rehabbed downstairs nursery. Spread the word and please say hello to Kristen.
* Children are always welcome in worship and, in fact, we’re setting up the children’s corner again (although they don’t have to sit there!) and offering materials for children’s use during worship.
* Regular Sunday School is on break for the summer. So is TFYC!
* But look for children, as they join us, to be more fully involved participants in the liturgy. And start brainstorming about the fall.

Finally, for all of us, a question: what do you do in church that a young person could help with? If you’re on your way to do something, look around: is there someone you can take with you and show the ropes? (Actually, this could be a 10-year-old or a 35-year-old! Not all of know how things work or where things get put away around here.) Spiritual formation, for children and adults, doesn’t only happen in services or lessons but in relationship with other Christians. Young people can easily:

*help greet and pass out bulletins
*collect the offering
*read Scripture
*help serve or clean up from hospitality

Let’s live into our mission statement: let’s be a community of friends that loves all people and welcomes the little children in the name of the One who loves and welcomes each of us.

In peace,

Rebecca Anderson
Minister of Spiritual Formation

Jen and Dave Massey

Jen and Dave Massey were married in July of 2006, in Indiana, having met roughly 7 years earlier while attending Georgia Tech in the study of engineering. Jen, a native of Mission, Texas, had relocated to Atlanta, near Dave’s hometown of Tyrone, Georgia. With marriage the two came to reside in Lafayette, Indiana, with Jen working in Indianapolis in the field of pharmaceuticals, and Dave attending graduate school at Purdue University. In the summer of 2008, the two moved to Chicago following Dave’s relatively new career in banking. They were joined in Chicago by their cat and 2 dogs; this menagerie is indicative of only a portion of their love for animals. On April 24th of 2010, their son Jack Wayne was brought into this world. At his young age, much remains to be determined about Jack’s future, not the least of which is how Dave (a Cardinals fan) and Jen (a White Sox fan), will raise him while living in the shadow of Wrigley Field. While that is still uncertain, the answer likely has something to do with the designated hitter, and of course, God’s will.

Adrienne Trevathan

Hello! I’m so excited to be a part of this wonderful community! I’m a recent graduate of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston. I got my M. Div. in 2009 and just finished coursework for the M.A. degree in Christian Education. There is something about teaching that gives me energy and joy that I don’t experience otherwise. I’ve been a United Methodist for 12 years and am currently serving Northminster Presbyterian Church as the Director of Christian Education. I’m a certified deacon candidate currently trying to figure out which hobby to develop now that I’m finally out of school. I have a passion for writing, satire, Reconciling Ministries, driving my car with the windows down, and 93XRT.

Sermon, July 11 2010
Holy Covenant UMC
Rev. Kate Hurst Floyd

Luke 10:25-37

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Go and do likewise, Jesus tells us.
Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and your neighbor as yourself.
Your neighbor is anyone, especially the one we ignore, who shows mercy and compassion.
Go, he says, be a good Samaritan, and do likewise.

It’s hard, though, to go and do likewise when we, ourselves, are by the side of the road, not walking by. For the world is full of ditches, and often we find ourselves there:

There’s a woman in a ditch right now. Beaten, robbed, covered in blood and dust, alone on the side of the road, feeling hopeless.
She doesn’t know how she got there.
She had all the markers of success in her life: Captain of her high school basketball team, valedictorian, full ride to her state school. There she was able to balance having a good time with getting her work done, developed an interest in human rights advocacy, and applied to law school. And there she met him, her future husband, and it was pure magic, from the very start.
But now she’s here, all alone, beaten…not physically, but she was so afraid one day he would. He pounded her down emotionally, one insult, threat, and manipulation at a time. He’s slowly robbed her of her friends, close family connections, and her dignity. It’s hard to see clearly because of all the dust in her eyes. She finally left, but has nowhere to go and needs some serious healing. (more…)

July 10, 2010
Greetings from Atlanta!

After first spending a couple of days with my uncle in Houston and having an awesome
time, I arrived in Atlanta today. It was a really busy day. First, we all got settled into our
rooms and met our roommates. Kelsey is from Alabama. She is really nice. There are
lots of kids here from the south. I am especially happy about this ’cause I am a southern
gal at heart. The next thing we did was ice breaker activities and games to get to know
each other. I was hoping they would do the activity where you are asked to use three
words or things that best describe you. I was going to use one of Pastor Kate’s words
– child of God. I was bummed when they didn’t do this activity. Worship was so cool. It
felt a lot like how we worship and they sang a song that we do so I knew the words. The
other kids are great. Everyone is so nice and it already feels like we have known each
other for a long time. I am so excited. I have to stop here. Everyone is coming together
to end the day in song.

Thanks so much for all your prayers and support.

Love and Peace,
Rachel Durbin-Nowicki

Dear Holy Covenant Friends,

I want to tell you about an awesome experience I am going to have this summer. I have been
selected to participate in the Youth Theological Initiative Summer Academy in Atlanta, Georgia,
July 10-31, 2010. The Youth Theological Initiative is a program of theological education hosted
by Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

YTI gathers high school students from around the country to explore what it means to be
a “public theologian.” We will engage in service in the Atlanta community and have ongoing
conversation about how to connect our faith to the needs of the world around us.

I am asking for your support in visible and active ways as I get ready for this experience. Most
importantly, I need your prayers and encouragement. I also am asking for financial support to
help cover my expenses. Even while I am in Atlanta, anyone interested in supporting me may
purchase “stock” for $10 a share. Checks can be made out to Holy Covenant with YTI
Scholarship in the memo line.

Growing up, I learned lots of ways to make the world a better place. The thing I’ve never been
quite sure of was how to live my life and have God at its center. I believe my experience at YTI
will help me to start figuring that out. Thank you.

Love and Peace,
Rachel Durbin-Nowicki

Dear friends in Holy Covenant,

Our evening service is a year and a half old now. All along, the central image for the 7 pm service has been that of Jesus walking along the road to Emmaus with his disciples after he’d been raised from the dead. They talked about Scripture and recent events. They invited Jesus in and ate together. When Jesus broke bread at the end of the meal – gasp – they recognized him! Sunday nights, we gather hungry for the same kinds of conversation and the same kind of meal where Jesus shows up again and again.

Some folks haven’t yet had the chance to attend the evening service; some first-timers exclaim with surprise, “Hey! This is great!” Come find out for yourself what we’re doing. As a church, we decided to commit to this service as an offering for our community and those who aren’t yet in our doors. Even if this is not your usual service, please consider coming this week to show support for this vital ministry of our church. Our hope is that when you come and see what the service is about, you can direct friends and newcomers to this acoustic service of contemplation, weekly Eucharist, and prayer.

Come: if you’ve been meaning to check out the evening service. Come: if you plan to spend most of the day at the beach on Sunday. Come: if you’ve ever wanted to have a root beer float after a church service during which the late day light streams in sideways through the stained glass windows and then grows dark and intimate by the time we gather around the table. And come help make this service especially rich, peopled with many voices and much energy. We expect lots of visitors and want them to experience how Holy Covenant worships! Even if you can’t be there, please spread the word.

Come for the service, stay for the root beer floats and pizza. Bring friends; bring $5 for pizza (if you can); and bring your singing voice. Beach attire welcome.

Looking forward to worshiping and celebrating with you, and to gathering again around the table,

Rebecca Anderson

Guided Meditation
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
Rev. Kate Hurst Floyd, Holy Covenant UMC
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. ²He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.

Imagine the places Jesus is calling you to go in your life. Where is the harvest? Is it in your family and personal life? Is he calling you to a new place in your work life? In schooling? Is your harvest to a new journey within yourself? A place of forgiveness, peace, hope? Is he calling you out of yourself, to leave your comfort zone? To serve others? Help the hurt and the lost and the least? Where is Jesus calling you to go?

³Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. ⁴Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.

What is weighing you down on your journey? Imagine that Jesus is calling you to let go of your stuff, your purse and bag and sandals…maybe its physical stuff in your home, your car, your clothes, your electronics. What is distracting you from going on your journey? What does it feel like to let it all go? (more…)

Dear Holy Covenant,

There will be NO evening service this week, July 4th due to the holiday weekend. Please do come in the morning at 9:30 and 11:15 for our evening-style service in the am. Please plan to join us for our evening service summer kick-off worship and party on July 11th at 7pm.

Hope you enjoy afternoon and evening sabbath time with your loved ones this Sunday!

Peace,
Pastor Kate

Dear Holy Covenant Family,

We are in the fullness of summer: sunshine and beach time, flowers and free concerts, long days and mini- vacations. Summer is the season for abundance. We live, however, in a world that preaches scarcity, fear, and limited resources. As people of faith, let us live into summer, not only as a time for relaxation, but as a reminder that God’s abundance is greater than any limitations the world hands us. As the writer and teacher Parker Palmer says:

In summer, it is hard to remember that we had ever doubted the natural process, had ever ceded death the last word, had ever lost faith in the powers of new life. Summer is a reminder that our faith is not nearly as strong as the things we profess to have faith in-a reminder that for this single season, at least, we might cease our anxious machinations and give ourselves to the abiding and abundant grace of our common life.

We certainly witnessed this abundance during our Pride celebration throughout June and over the last weekend! New life triumphed over fear, death, and futility. As we move into July, we continue to live as a people blessed by God’s abundance. I invite you to seek out new life through two exciting offerings in our church:

*We now have childcare available during the 9:30am service. We have hired a certified child-care worker, Kristen McCray, from the company Sitbaby, and we are confident she will take great care with our babies and toddlers. In addition, there will be a volunteer from Holy Covenant who will also be in the nursery during this time. Your children are always welcome in worship. We hope, though, that this provides a helpful option for those of you who prefer for your children to be in a nursery (and for those of you whose children would prefer to be in a nursery!). Please spread the word and invite friends with young ones to Holy Covenant.

*Join us for our Sunday Evening Kick-Off Party on July 11th at 7pm. Come to worship, stay for pizza and root beer floats! Our evening service is a year and a half old now. As a church, we decided to commit to this service as an offering for our community and those who aren’t yet in our doors. Even if this is not your usual service, please consider coming on the 11th to show support for this vital ministry of our church. Our hope is that when you come and see what the service is about, you can direct friends and newcomers to this unplugged service of contemplation, weekly Eucharist, and prayer.

See you on Sunday, where this week all three of our services will be in the style of the evening service. We’ll sing old favorites unplugged, a capella and with guitar. We’ll share in communion, prayers of the people, candle-lighting, and silence. We’ll worship the God who always provides abundantly. Think about who you can bring with you.

Grace and Peace,
Kate